New NUS i³ building to house collaborative spaces, incubation facilities, and offices for NUS-affiliated startups
NUS Enterprise has launched a series of fresh initiatives to strengthen local innovation and support startups in Singapore.
It is rolling out new facilities, international education programmes, and strategic partnerships aimed at building a stronger deep tech ecosystem while expanding Singapore’s global innovation footprint.
The announcements were made at the opening of the revitalised i³ building today (Sep 13), a five-storey hub that will house collaborative spaces, incubation facilities, and offices for NUS-affiliated startups.
Boosting deep tech infrastructure
Central to the new initiatives is the launch of the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP) Labs, which will help research teams and startups speed up the development of solutions in areas such as AI, health technology, and sustainability.
National GRIP, a government-backed initiative led by NUS Enterprise, is Singapore’s national deep tech venture creation programme, training graduate students and researchers to transform their ideas into scalable companies through mentorship, funding, and market validation. The programme aims to train 300 startups by 2028 and nurture more than 150 spin-offs by 2030.
The new labs will support both National GRIP teams and other local and international startups by giving them access to specialised prototyping services and advanced equipment.
Funding support
In addition, NUS Enterprise announced two new co-investment partnerships to strengthen Singapore’s position as a global innovation hub.
One partnership is a co-investment framework with SG Growth Capital, the strategic investment platform of the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG). The framework will channel more capital into deep tech startups and selected venture capital funds, with SG Growth Capital matching NUS Enterprise’s investments based on its evaluation of each fund.
It has also signed a S$20 million co-investment agreement with Lotus One Investment to jointly support both NUS spin-offs and VC funds. Profits from these collaborations will be reinvested to strengthen NUS Enterprise’s innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.
Together, these initiatives are designed to provide greater support for NUS-affiliated start-ups and broaden co-investment opportunities, complementing the S$150 million NUS VC Programme launched in July 2025.
Under the programme, NUS Enterprise is investing S$50 million in selected VC firms to support NUS tech startups, and has committed S$100 million to an autonomous investment fund focused on startups affiliated with the university.
Expanding international reach
Beyond Singapore, NUS Enterprise is strengthening ties with global partners.
A S$2 million pilot programme with Stanford University will give NUS students hands-on experience in cross-border teams co-developing solutions with industry partners such as Meta and Venture Corporation.
In Japan, NUS Enterprise is deepening its presence through its BLOCK71 network, which connects Southeast Asian startups to the Japanese market while supporting Japanese ventures overseas.
New initiatives include a PhD Discovery programme, a localised GRIP with Kyoto University, and a partnership with auto parts manufacturer Toyoda Gosei.
Under the BLOCK71 umbrella, NUS Enterprise has also launched the AI Accelerate Programme in collaboration with Microsoft, designed to fast-track early-stage AI startups in Asia. The programme’s first two runs have supported 36 startups, with applications for the third run opening in October 2025.
“NUS is committed to creating stronger pathways for deep tech start-ups to succeed,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, the President of NUS.
“These partnerships give our ventures greater access to capital, networks, and expertise, while reinforcing NUS’ role in advancing deep tech innovation and contributing to a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Singapore, the region, and globally.”
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Featured Image Credit: NUS Enterprise/ Vulcan Post